Campaigns
MAG Position - 'Patch Clubs' And MAG Events
The following proposal was passed by overwhelming majority of those present at the 1998 Annual Group Conference.
When organising MAG fund-raising events you may be faced with a situation whereby a patch club demands free entry to the event, with an implicit threat of violence and / or disorder should their demands not be acceded to.
The National Committee is not in the business of demanding or inciting personal heroism from any Rep member. It is one thing for us to put advice in writing and quite another to have to face 20 thugs, each weighing in at 200lbs plus, at l0pm on a Saturday night rally site, miles from the nearest police station. At the same time it is important that MAG is not perceived as a pushover. Any large-scale automatic capitulation to the unreasonable demands of these gangs will have negative knock on effects for other MAG events. If one club demands and gets free entry, free beer and free generator petrol at one MAG event then all clubs will sooner or later expect and demand the same concessions at all MAG events.
Where MAG National events are concerned (The Glowing Lamb, The Anglesey Show, Storming the Castle, Builth, etc.) there will be absolutely no concessions of any kind save for any granting of block booking discounts on the same terms as other non-MAG affiliated clubs. Yorkshire MAG long since decided to apply the same policy to the Farmyard Party. These decisions are final and non-negotiable.
Where local events are concerned, how you handle it is ultimately up to you but we hope these notes will help.
Pre Event
1) If you receive a polite and civilised approach from a Patch Club wishing to attend your event, treat them like any other club. If they are not MAG affiliated (most are not) then offer them the same ticket price as you are offering to other non-MAG affiliated clubs. If they are affiliated then likewise, offer then affiliated club pre-booking terms. Assuming that they pay for their tickets and behave well on site, report these facts back to MAG Central. Many members see a patch club on site and wrongly make the automatic assumption that we have let them on for free. To allow such wrong impressions to go uncorrected is unfair to clubs who do the honourable thing by paying the going rate. It also creates ill-will between MAG and those members of the paying public who wrongly make the assumption.
2) If you receive an aggressive approach pre-event then you must report it to Central Office. What constitutes an `aggressive approach' is really a subjective judgement but basically it means any approach which indicates that the club will not pay the going rate for entry, or which contains any element of express or implied threat to persons or property. The National Officers will discuss the situation with you and will render all possible assistance. MAG National Officers will deal directly with the clubs concerned, police and politicians on your behalf if that is your wish.
3) Do not offer free entry, beer, food or other services to any club in a mistaken attempt to ingratiate yourself with them. Likewise, do not offer special privileges of any kind such as roped off camping areas. Such behaviour encourages disrespect of MAG and you personally. Nobody must be misled into thinking that we will automatically treat thugs like royalty.
During The Event
1) If a Patch Club turns up and demands free entry then your options are:
a) Let them in immediately and do nothing about it;
b) Let them in immediately and call the police;
c) Refuse entry, giving in only if a clear threat is made, and then call
the police. Do not attempt any forcible resistance. Use the police. That is what our taxes pay for!
2) Assuming an aggressive club is on site which causes you concern, you should take the following measures to ensure that any crimes are subsequently punished:
a) Note down vehicle numbers. If the club in question uses hire vans, note down the name of the hire firm.
b) Note down names and descriptions of the individuals involved in any incidents. Also note the time of the incident. If possible take discreet photographs or video tapes.
c) Obtain personal details (name, address and telephone number) of any victim of theft, damage or violence caused by the club members. d) Pass all details to the police at the earliest opportunity with copies to MAG Central.
What Can The National Committee Do?
1) Lobby for urgent political and police action against troublesome gangs, even to the extent of having them declared to be "illegal organisations" like the IRA et al..
2) Object to licensing applications when these clubs seek to run their own money making events, on the grounds that by disrupting the events of legitimate competitors they are, in effect, running a protection racket and indulging in unfair and illegal anti-competitive practices.
3) Give them constant bad publicity, encouraging bikers to boycott their events.
4) Seek court injunctions against those involved.
MAG is not seeking conflict with anyone but MAG will not be victimised either. The MAG National Committee will therefore take all action within its power to defend MAG members' interests. MAG will treat all motorcyclists equally and does not recognise any club as being in any way superior or deserving of special treatment.
MAG UK© October 2001 All rights reserved.
